NASHVILLE, TN (WLAF) – The start of the Campbell County Cougar football and Lady Cougar soccer seasons cannot begin as originally scheduled according to the TSSAA.  Word about the status of Campbell High and the rest of Tennessee’s high school programs emerged on Tuesday afternoon.Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association Executive Director Bernard Childress sent the following memo to member schools on Tuesday regarding the status of high school athletics amidst the Governor’s latest State of Emergency order.

Monday, the Governor’s office extended Tennessee’s COVID-19 State of Emergency until August 29, 2020. The Governor’s prior order (No. 38) includes limitations and restrictions on contact sporting events and activities.

“We are working with the Governor’s office to ensure that our member schools are in compliance with the executive order in regards to athletic participation and contact sports,” said Childress.

While the Governor’s order is in place, member schools cannot have any competition or scrimmage with other schools and cannot have close contact activities during their fundamental practice in the sports of football, 7-on-7 football, girls soccer, wrestling and basketball.

“Today’s announcement is very disappointing coming on the heels of losing the whole boys season this past spring. This starts to make you have doubts that the fall sports may not happen. It seems so insensitive saying that in today’s time but the kids look forward to sports and right now something like that can go along way,” said CCHS Head Cougar and Lady Cougar Soccer Coach Bryan Horton.

Cougar Head Football Coach Justin Price said, “The TSSAA has announced that our season will not begin as originally scheduled. This has been a very fluid situation, and there are still unknowns at this point. We will adapt to the new plan when it becomes available.”

Based on the extension of the Governor’s order, football and girls’ soccer cannot begin their seasons as originally scheduled. We are in the process of developing regular season and postseason options to present to the TSSAA Board of Control for their consideration. The Board will ultimately make the decision as to how this will impact the postseason and if any adjustments can be made to regular season competition.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 07/01/2020-6AM)

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